Origin
Tacoma, WA
Evening in Tacoma on Sunday
Local time
7:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tacoma, WA to Dallesport, WA
Drive Time
4h 24m
Distance
223.9 mi
360 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 11m
★
6 AM
4h 24m
8 AM
4h 51m
10 AM
4h 34m
12 PM
4h 31m
3 PM
4h 35m
5 PM
4h 50m
8 PM
4h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
Traveling from Tacoma to Dallesport covers 223.9 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 24 minutes behind the wheel. This highway-focused route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $47 for fuel to complete the journey. By sticking to a mix of I-5, I-205, and the Columbia River Highway, you get a straightforward path through the Pacific Coast region. Since the entire trip stays within Washington state, it remains a manageable drive for those looking to reach their destination efficiently while keeping travel logistics simple.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112 miles from Tacoma, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive defined by significant highway segments, which account for 63% of your total travel time. You will spend the bulk of your journey on major interstates, including a long, uninterrupted 125.2-mile stretch on I-5. The road transitions from high-traffic interstate corridors to the Columbia River Highway, providing a change in pace as you head toward Dallesport. While the route is heavy on highway miles, the shift in scenery as you move through the region keeps the experience from feeling like a monotonous grind. Prepare for a consistent, fast-paced drive that rewards steady momentum.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 125.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Columbia River Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Market Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 223.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Market Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South 13th Street
Turn left onto South 13th Street
Navigation decision point
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Portland
7
127.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m in
|
I 205
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205 toward I 205 South: Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 205 South: Salem
8
142.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 125.2 mi | 2h 21m |
| Columbia River Highway | 77.3 mi | 1h 29m |
| I 205 | 14.7 mi | 19m |
| Dallesport Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| The Dalles-California Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| I 705 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 6th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 13th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 125.2 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tacoma, WA and Dallesport, WA.
1
Start on South 11th Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
South 11th Street
2
Turn right onto Market Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
3
Turn left onto South 13th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 13th Street
4
Turn right onto I 705 SB Ramp
213 ft
·
11 sec
·
I 705 SB Ramp
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Port of Tacoma
6
Merge onto I 705
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 705
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 South: Portland
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 5
125 mi
·
2 hr 21 min
·
I 5
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
15 mi
·
19 min
·
I 205
Toward I 205 South: Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 22
Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 84; US 30
77 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
Columbia River Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 197: Dufur, Bend
13
Turn left onto US 30; US 197
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
The Dalles-California Highway
14
Turn left onto Dallesport Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Dallesport Road
15
Turn left onto 6th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
6th Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
6th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a roughly 4.5-hour trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to avoid peak traffic congestion on the I-5 corridor. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer interstate sections, as stopping for gas while you are already off the main highway can save you time. Because you only need one stop, you have the flexibility to choose a location that fits your personal schedule rather than being forced into a rigid itinerary. Prioritize keeping your fuel costs around the $47 estimate by filling up before hitting the most remote highway stretches.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 112 miles from Tacoma, WA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dallesport, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tacoma, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tacoma, WA
This is one driving day of about 223.9 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tacoma, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 125.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 112 mi from Tacoma, WA · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112 miles from Tacoma, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 125.2 miles.
Arriving in Dallesport, WA
The final approach into Dallesport, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Dallesport, WA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.99 one way
$93.99 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $49.07 | $98.15 |
| premium | $5.77 | $50.87 | $101.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $49.74 | $99.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.51 | $10.75 |
| Efficient EV | 56 | 0 | $19.59 | $8.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.6 | 1 | $31.35 | $14.33 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Dallesport, WA
Evening in Dallesport on Sunday
Local time
7:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
41°F
Vancouver, WA
112 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 24m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Tacoma, WA to Dallesport, WA covers 223.9 miles and takes about 4h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Columbia River Highway, I 205. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 112 miles from Tacoma, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.99 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 223.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tacoma, WA to Dallesport, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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